He was born Sept. 9, 1941, in Orford, N.H., to Everett and Flora Sanborn Blake, who both are deceased. On Jan. 23, 1960, he married Nettie Pierson, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, David (Deb) Blake of Celina and Chris (Delanya) Blake of Sidney; two daughters, Suzy Blake of Portales, N.M., and Jean Blake of Coldwater; a brother, Mike (June) Blake of Acworth, N.H.; four sisters, Lucille (Robert) Palifka, Kathy Sanborn, Beth (John) Miller and Jan (Mike) Grady, all of Orford, N.H.; a mother-in-law, Dorothy Pierson, Orford, N.H.; three grandchildren, Andy (Amber) Blake of Celina, Kyle Blake of Celina and Lilleigh New of Portales, N.M.; two great-grandchildren, Keaton and Braxtyn Blake; and in-laws, Kip (Dave) Gordon of Coldwater and Bill (Judi) Pierson of Lakeland, Fla.

He graduated in 1959 from Orford High School and later graduated from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H. He worked at New Idea from 1963 to 1984 and retired from Crown Lift Trucks in 2006, where he had worked as an engineer.

He was a 50-year member of Beaver Chapel Church in Celina.

Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Thomas Christen officiating. Burial is set for a later date.